How to Reboot a Lenovo Laptop

User the power button from the Start menu or Ctrl+Alt+Del screen to restart your Lenovo computer

By
Matthew S. Smith
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Matthew S. Smith
Writer
  • Beloit College
Matthew S. Smith has been writing about consumer tech since 2007. Formerly the Lead Editor at Digital Trends, he's also written for PC Mag, TechHive, and others.
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Updated on October 17, 2023
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
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Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute

Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA-certified technologist with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.

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What to Know

  • Select Start from the taskbar. Go to Power > Restart.
  • Alternatively, press Ctrl+Alt+Del. Select Power, then Restart.
  • If the laptop is frozen, press and hold the power button until it turns off.

Rebooting a Lenovo laptop is often the first step in resolving major and minor computer problems. It's also necessary to finish a Windows update and install some software. This guide will teach you how to reboot a Lenovo laptop running Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.

How to Reboot a Lenovo Laptop in Windows

The steps below explain the best way to reboot a Lenovo laptop. It will initiate a Windows Update if one is available, finish the software installation, and fully close all open applications.

However, this method will not work if a full-screen application, or Windows itself, is frozen. The other methods in this guide may help if that's the case.

  1. Select Start from the Windows taskbar.

    The Windows desktop on a Lenovo laptop with the Start menu visible.

  2. Select Power.

    The Windows Start menu with the Power button visible.

  3. Choose Restart.

    The Windows Start menu open with the Restart option available.

Windows will close all open applications and restart. This process can take several moments.

The Lenovo laptop may fail to reboot if open applications include unsaved data. You will see a screen listing the application that needs to be closed before the laptop can reboot. Close all open applications and try again.

How to Reboot a Lenovo Laptop With Control+Alt+Delete

The Start menu is the most common way to restart Windows, but it won't work if an application is frozen and blocking access to the desktop. This method can resolve the problem.

  1. Press the Control, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously.

  2. From the menu of options, select the Power button in the lower right corner.

    A Lenovo laptop open with the Windows Control+Alt+Delete menu visible.

  3. Select Restart.

    The Windows Control+Alt+Delete menu open with the Restart option available.

Windows will close all open applications and restart. It can result in the loss of unsaved data, so it's best to save any files you have open, if possible.

How to Manually Reboot a Lenovo Laptop

You can manually reboot a Lenovo laptop by pressing and holding the power button for several seconds.

The power button on a Lenovo laptop.


The location of the power button will vary. Most Lenovo laptops place the power button above the keyboard, while Lenovo 2-in-1 devices place the power button on the 2-in-1's right or left flank.

The laptop will turn off. Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.

A manual reboot is not ideal because it will close all applications. It can result in the loss of unsaved data. Still, it may be your only option if the Lenovo laptop has crashed or is frozen.

Still Having Trouble? Try a Factory Reset

Rebooting a Lenovo laptop will often resolve issues such as frozen software, and is essential for installing new applications, but more severe problems may require a factory reset.

A factory reset will return the laptop to a like-new software configuration. It will also erase data from the Lenovo laptop. Our guide on factory resetting a Lenovo laptop describes the process in detail.

Reset and reboot are very different things. You can't undo a factory reset, so consider this a last resort if you have problems with your Lenovo laptop.

FAQ
  • How do I reboot in Safe Mode on a Lenovo laptop?

    To reboot in Safe Mode on Windows 10 from the sign-in screen, select Power > Restart > and hold the Shift key. Then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. After your laptop restarts, select the Enable Safe Mode option, which might appear as 4, F4, or Fn+F4. You can also access Safe Mode from Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.

  • How do I reboot to BIOS on a Lenovo laptop?

    You can enter BIOS on your Windows 10 laptop by selecting Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Restart Now. When you see the list of options, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. If you have an older laptop, you might be able to enter BIOS by powering on your laptop and pressing F12 or the function hotkey that works with your particular model.

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